Apparatus for breaking pig-iron



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. S. KENNEDY.

APPARATUS FOR BREAKING PIG IRON.

No. 520,685. I Patented May 29, 1894.

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2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

.J. S. KENNEDY. APPARATUS FOR BREAKING PIG IRON.

No. 520,685. Patented May 29, 1894.

JOHN S. (av/v50):

Invenir. I

'NITED. STATES;

ATENT APPARATUS FORBREAKING PIG-IRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 52o,es'5, dated May 29, 1894.

Application filed February 12, 1894- Serial No. 499,911. (No model.)

Breaking Irom'of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for removing pig iron from the pig bed and breaking the same,-the invention being also applicable to chills, sand molding and machine molding.

The method which is now universally employed 1n carrying out and breaking the pig iron 1s as follows: After the cast is run, and while the iron is red hot, the pigs are broken from the sows, and the sows broken to convenient length by means of bars and sledgesf The iron is then cooled, loaded on to trucks, run out of the cast house, and the pigs and sows then broken into short lengths for grad- 1n g by throwing them over breaking blocks. In some cases the cast is allowed to cool, and the pigs broken from the sows, and the sows broken to convenient length by heavy sledges,tthe iron thus broken being loaded upon trucks to be subsequently broken for grading as above mentioned. The above methods are expensive and slow, and where iron is broken hot, results in the production of considerable scrap.

My invention is designed to decrease the cost of-carrying out and breaking ready for grading, shorten the time required to perform such operations, decrease the percentage of scrap and the amount of sand adhering to the iron, and, finally, improve the appearance of the iron.

In the preferred construction of apparatus for carrying out the process, I employ an overhead traveling crane, supporting one or two trolleys, by means of which the cold pig iron is elevated and carried by entire beds to a breaking table on to which it is lowered, and where, by means of suitable hammers, the sow is broken from the pigs, and the pigs and sows are broken into pieces of suitable length.

In the drawingswhich represent one form of apparatus for carrying out my invention,- Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a cast house, showing two beds suspended from the overhead traveling crane or hoisting mechanism, one of such beds being in avertical plane, while the other is shown as supported in a horizontal plane; Fig. 2, an end elevation of a portion of the same; Fig. 3,a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the breaking table; Fig. 4:, an end view of the same; and Fig. 5 a view showing the means by which the bed is suspended in a horizontal position from the crane or hoisting mechanism.

0 indicates an overhead traveling crane supported upon horizontal girders D, and carrying one or more trolleys A A. The crane, which may be constructed in any desired manner, is adapted to be operated by a suitable mechanism controlled by fluid or electricity, or by hand-geared mechanism for use in emergencies. The trolleys are opererated either for hoisting, lowering, or traversing, by fluid or electricity, and have also hand-gear attachments, as is customary.

B represents a bed (comprising sow and pigs) which, as shown in Fig. 1, has been elevated by the crane from the casting bed, so as to be cooled and have the sand washed off.

13 represents a bed suspended from the crane in a horizontal plane by suitable chains f, and in position to be traversed to the breaking table K, which in the present instance is located at the end of the cast house.

The trolley or trolleys A are provided with winding drums or sheaves a, placed at sufficient distance from center to center to allow of suspending and carrying the bed in a horizontal plane. After the bed has been raised by means of the crane, it is traversed, in the present'instance, to the end of the cast house where it is lowered upon the breaking table K, which is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. This table comprises the longitudinal support or supports 1), and the longitudinal support or supports m,-the former being adapted to enter the neck n which is formed in the under side of the pigs P at the point where they join the sow S, while the latter (m) are adapted to support the opposite ends of the pigs.

From an inspection of Fig. 4 it will be seen that when the bed, comprising the sow and pigs, is placed upon the supports 19 and m of the table K, the sow will overhang or project outside of the support 19. Directly beneath the sow, but below the plane of the support or anvil p is a series of anvils Z which form, as 1t were, a secondary table to support the sow after being broken off from the pigs.

In order to hold the bed upon the table, I employ a series of clamps or dogs d, which are secured to the shaft h journaled in boxes or bearings j, which latter are secured to the support m, as shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 4:.

Located above'the table, and supported in any suitable manner, is a girder frame G, to support the hammer-operating mechanism, which, forming no part of the present invention, I have not illustrated.

It will be noticed upon reference to Fig. 3

that the girder support is recessed as at F, so as to allow the supporting chains ff to enter therein, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, to properly place the bed upon the breaking table.

E represents the breaking hammers, which are arranged directly over the sow when the latter is'in position upon the table; and D represents the hammers which are arranged directly over the pigs at a point between their supports 17?. and 19. These hammers, D and E, may be arranged to be operated simultaneously or independently, as circumstances may require, and they may be constructed in any suitable manner, and with cushioning devices to relieve them of the jars and st rains incident to the breaking of the iron. After the bed is placed upon the table as described, with the sow overhanging the anvils or secondary table, the hammers E are caused to descend and to break the sow bodily off from the pigs. This operation leaves the pigs upon their supports m and p, but carries the detached sow down onto the anvils or secondary table. The sow being supported upon this table, is now broken into pieces of suitable lengths by means of the same hammers E which detached it from the pigs. The pigs are broken into suitable lengths by means of the hammers D which strike them at a point between their supports,the broken sections of the pigs and sow falling upon an inclined apron t, by means of which they are directed outside of the cast house preparatory to grading.

The breaking table K which is represented in Fig. 3, is shown in section at different points throughout its length, the lines of view being represented in Fig. 4: as 0c0c, yy, and z-z.

The number and form of the hammers employed, as well as the mechanism for operating the same, may be varied as desired.

It is to be understood that the drawings are intended as merely illustrative, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting or restricting myself to the details of construction shown and described, except as hereinafter particularly specified.

I am aware of the patent to Martin and James, No. 498,805, and make no claim to anything therein shown and described. My invention dilfers from theirs in several important particulars which I will briefly enumerate. In the first place, in breaking iron according to their method, the bed is fed lengthwise with a step-by-step movement beneath the hammers, instead of being placed upon a table, and broken while upon and without movement relatively to the table. In the second place, under the prior method the pigs are detached from a short section of the sow, instead of detaching the sow from the pigs. Under the present invention the entire sow is detached bodily from-the pigs and falls upon a secondary table where it isbroken into proper lengths,the pigs from which the sow was broken being meanwhile supported upon the main table in the position in which they were originally placed, so that they may be broken into pieces of proper length. These differences result in effecting a material saving-in the cost of breaking, for, after the bed is once placed upon the table it requires no handling or manipulation beyond the breaking. I am also enabled to break the bed practically at one operation, thus effecting a considerable saving in time, and a reduction in the cost of the breaking machinery,-no feed-mechanism being required. All these advantages are due primarily, or at least in great measure, to the fact that I detach the sow bodily from the pigs instead of breaking the pigs from the sow, as has heretofore been the custom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In combination with atraveling hoist; a breaking table; and a support for the breaking hammers, located above the table, and recessed inward from its edge to allow the hoisting chains to enter.

2. In a breaking-table, the combination with the longitudinal support or supports to receive the necks of the pigs; of supports for the ends of the pigs; and clamps for holding the ends of the pigs upon their supports.

3. In combination with a table having supports for the pigs; a secondary table to receive the sow when-detached from the pigs; and suitable breaking hammers for detaching the sow and for breaking the sow and pigs, said hammers being located respectively over the main and secondary tables.

I. In combination with the table provided with supports and clamps for the pigs; a secondary table below the plane of the main tataching the sow bodily from the pigs while' the bed is upon the table.

7. In an apparatus for breaking pig-iron, the combination of a table or support upon which to place the bed; and means for detaching the sow bodily from the pigs, and for breaking the pigs and the detached sow.

8. In an apparatus for breaking pig-iron, the combination of a table or support upon which to place the bed; clamping devices for holding the pigs; and means for detachin the sow bodily from the pigs.

9. In an apparatus for breaking pig-iron, the combination of a table or support upon which to place the bed; suitable breaking 15 hammers to detach the sow bodily from the pigs; and hammers for breaking the pigs.

In witness whereof Ihereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. KENNEDY.

Witnesses:

HORACE A. DODGE; WALTER S. DODGE. 

